BARBADOS - cricket - West Indies Under-15 team 2004

Sunday 11, April-2004 by Louis Holder In Kingstown

An unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 56 between wicket-keeper batsman Renaldo Arthur (53 n.o.) and Shamar Cooke (22 n.o.) enabled Barbados to defeat Guyana by two wickets as the regional Under-15 cricket tournament continued in St Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday.

The Bajans’ kept their unbeaten record intact with their third consecutive victory, but it was tougher than most expected.

After Barbados were set a target of 144 in 50 overs, the winless Guyanese had them on the back foot, restricting them to 88 for eight at one stage.

But the in-form Arthur was joined by Cooke, and the pair batted intelligently and, cheered on by a small but supportive contingent from Barbados, ensured Barbados would make it three wins on the trot.

Arthur was named Man-Of-The-Match, his second such award in as many games. He struck five fours in his innings, while Cooke, who lent solid support, had a single boundary to his credit.

Guyana’s skipper and off-spinner Steven Jacobs was their most successful bowler, taking three for 25.

Earlier, Guyana, after winning the toss and batting, were pegged back and made 143 for seven off their overs. Dave Benny topscored with 42.

Bajan pacer Dawayne Sealy was the best bowler for the winners, taking three for 19 from only five overs. Captain Simon Steel also chipped in with two for 36.

Barbados will now meet defending champs Jamaica, who are also unbeaten in the tournament, tomorrow, in a match most fans consider a preview of the eventual championship match.

Compliments of the Nation News

See how they did in the next game

Saturday 17, April-2004

Simon Steel and the other members of the triumphant Barbados Under-15 team returned home from St Vincent and the Grenadines after capturing the regional title for the first time in seven years.

The captain’s right hand is in a cast after he fractured his thumb in a crucial match against Jamaica which the team narrowly won by two wickets.

Steel, an elegant right-handed batsman and off-spin bowler, showed steely resolve as he batted in pain with the injury.

At his left is opening batsman Rashidi Boucher, who scored the most runs for Barbados in the tournament, while vice-captain Christopher Jordan is at right.

Compliments of the Nation News

Saturday 17, April-2004

Wicket-keeper/batsman Renaldo Arthur with his two trophies. Arthur was named the Best Wicket-keeper of the tournament and voted Barbados’ Most Valuable Player.

by Ezra Stuart

THE triumphant Barbados Under-15 cricketers were given a VIP reception yesterday on their return from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The team, captained by Simon Steel and coached by George Linton, won the annual West Indies Under-15 championship for the first time in seven years.

“It was a challenge but the rest of the team made it easy for me. The bowling was really good and the fielding was superb, so it wasn’t that difficult,” Steel said about his role as team captain.

Steel was originally named as vice-captain but took over the leadership after appointed captain Shamarh Brooks was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured thumb.

Ironically, Steel also suffered a fractured right thumb during the key match against Jamaica and had to miss the final game, which was the only one the young Barbadians lost.

“I was a little nervous at first but since Shamarh and I were captaining the trial games all along, I k what to expect from the fellows,” Steel said.

He said the objective from the start of the tournament was to capture the title.

“We haven’t won the cup for seven years, so that was all we were thinking about, trying to win it,” he said.

“The game against Jamaica we were going well and we nearly threw it away, but in the end we got home,” Steel noted.

The captain, who was nicknamed “Boy Of Steel” after he batted with the fractured thumb in the crucial game against Jamaica, disregarding the constant pain, said his intention was to stay in the middle as long as possible.

“It was a relatively small target, so all you needed was time at the crease and I just wanted to go out there and bat as long as I could and get as close to the score as possible,” he said.

The players were greeted at Grantley Adams International Airport by their parents, well-wishers and officials from the Barbados Cricket Association.

Chairman of the junior selection panel, Clinton St Hill, told the boys the BCA members “are extremely proud” of their achievements.

“Certainly, it is a continuation of our prowess in the Caribbean so far this year,” St Hill said, noting Barbados had won seven cricket titles in the last three years.

Compliments of the Nation News

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